The Beautiful Pain Movement is a support group for women and men who have experienced abortion and for family and friends who want to help.

It is not affiliated with any political, religious, pro-life or pro-choice views. Come as you are.

In 2011, I watched a friend go through the aftermath of an abortion. I told her that in time everything would slowly get better. I did not have all the answers.

I hugged her. I saw her pain. I saw her struggle with a lack of support from resources she reached out to and did not identify with because of their organizational beliefs. I was there.

In our society, we are supposed to handle our pain in private, behind closed doors. But ... where do you go when no one talks about abortion unless they are stating their opinion?

The Beautiful Pain Movement offers a place of support, love, hope, and resources without judgment for you to discuss your experience or support a loved one in this situation.

People ask me all the time if I am qualified to run The Beautiful Pain Movement. I am not.

I am a 20-year-old student at N.C. State University that likes to play basketball and my guitar, hang out with friends and read. I am a business major concentrating in human resources and entrepreneurship and a minor in Spanish.

But I am many things. Do not let my response fool you.

I am without the “formal qualifications,” but I have a heart and empathy. I have personal experience.

The controversial belief behind The Beautiful Pain Movement is that I am asking you to look beyond your morals, political and religious beliefs. Does that scare you?

I want you to dig deep to what many people seem to have forgotten. Discard the garbage that society, the media, and your environment feed into your conscience about race, gender/sexuality, social issues, and religion

The person experiencing an abortion could be your partner/wife, mother, aunt, sister, friend, grandma, granddaughter.

The person being affected could be your partner/husband, father, uncle, brother, friend, grandpa, grandson.

Do they matter to you? Can you be more understanding?

Can you get the support you deserve? Can the ones you care about get the support they deserve?

The Beautiful Pain Movement is just getting started.